Verizon Hub Phone gets really real, really
First uncovered well over a year ago, the “Verizon Hub” is finally going to see the light of day. Talk of the Hub, Hub Phone, Ultra-deskphone or whatever else you want to call it, was revived earlier this week when accessories began popping up on the Verizon website. Lo and behold, Big Red has made it official with a press release. So, umm, what is it?
…a new touch screen home phone system designed to replace old-style home phones with a souped-up home communications system, bridging wireline and wireless connectivity in one simple service, that runs on any broadband connection – whether supplied by Verizon FiOS Internet or DSL or any other high-speed service provider.
Well then. Mike Lanman, VP and CMO at Verizon Wireless goes on to say, “The Verizon Hub is going to change the way you think about what you want and need your home phone to do. Whether you’re thinking about getting rid of your home phone or can’t live without it, now is the time to try out the Verizon Hub.” The Verizon Hub will make use of the generously sized touchscreen in a variety of ways – weather info, a variety of calendar and time management functions, movie previews, ticket purchasing and so on. As for pricing, you’re looking at $200 after a $50 mail-in rebate and a monthly $35 subscription that includes unlimited US calling and messaging. The Verizon Hub is set to become available on February 1 – any takers?
i might try this little bad boy out.
So I’m just a little confused. Do we need to subscribe to Verizon internet/telephone service, or if we have some bundle with another company such as AT&T or Time Warner, can we pick up this beauty and it’ll work just fine?
Oh yeah, I’m going to cancel my $31.99/month home phone service to pay Verizon $250 + tax – $50 + $35/month.
And exactly why would I want another device that does exactly what my cell phone does?
Not going to happen.
Verizon, how about a cheap and simple hub that easily extends my existing Bluetooth cellphone to all of the wired phones in my house? I know they already exist, but if Verizon branded one it would absolutely increase the number of cell phone only homes. Oh yeah, this won’t happen because its too consumer friendly!
Gotta love to hate Verizon.
I have verizon for my DSL/home phone in my area. The only bad thing is they will not allow me to drop my home phone and just keep the DSL. So, in my case this thing makes no sense. I wonder how many other Verizon customers are in the same boat as me.
looks great but no verizon here. i dream of fios.
I would buy this if it was free (contract-subsidized) and going for $20 or $25/month for service.
If Verizon wants to knock one out of the park, they’ll need to provide value, and they’re not providing value by charging the same (or more) than the rest of the telcos. Considering this device isn’t so revolutionary, they’ll need all the help they can get with regard to lower-pricing and subsidies if they want to move these in any sort of volume.
Grade: D-
Try again.
Just like oturn said….why would I pay for something that my cell phone does? What about T-Mobile’s @Home service? That’s only 10 bucks a month!! That’s a $300 savings per year. If I want to know what the weather is, I use the web…..don’t need my home phone to tell me. Sorry VZW….
Me thinks this stinks…
First off, we can get weather, directions etc from our computer and phones already.
Second, phones are already touchscreen and of course some computers.
Third, why not just use my cell phone at home? I don’t see the point.
Fourth, for those that keep their otherwise useless landlines they are keeping them cause in the event of a major malfunction, power outage (whatever) your landline will still work where this likely wouldn’t and even if it’s hooked up to an APC/UPS etc it’s still dependant on cell towers (or internet connection? I still don’t understand which, but either is bad for emergency use).
Then you have the pricing, $200 and $35/month? Sure it’s a neat device I suppose but I typically wouldn’t be interested in adding $35/month to my already $400/month plus VZW bill for “neat” where the “neat” feeling would quickly fade.
VZW’s got a loser!
and even in emergencies, cant you just keep an old analog phone lying around and hook it into the jack to dial 911 at least? (someone correct me please, thought this was/is possible)
Although T-Mobile @Home service doesn’t have a fancy touch screen phone, I don’t need one at home. And the $10 per month TMO charges vs. this $35 (+ $250 for the unit) makes it a no brainer if you are going to keep a home phone.
Hell-to-the-no! Not even remotely worth it. I’m already paying $50 bucks a month for broadband why would I pay more money for a subscription for something I could build a cheap computer to do? Oh yeah didn’t someone already make a Chumby phone? Seems like the same thing. If VZ was smart they should sell the device for $300-$400, open source the software, 86 the subscription and I would buy one for sure.
Count it.
Oh yeah, and then give me a dock that I could connect my phone to so it forwards my cell calls to it.
If they could make it like a mini computer then it would be pretty cool. For me to buy it needs:
-Wireless Internet
-Capability to make Video Calls easily(like in Demolition man)
-Make it around a 15 inch tablet that wouldn’t stick out hanging on a wall.
-Make it a part of the package that I get with my Verizon wireless package. I’d pay like 10 bucks more a month if I could use it with my exisiting voice/data plan.
This would have been absolutely wicked back in, oh, 1998 or so. Oh well, it could be a neat gadget to have beside the bed in a five-star hotel room.
Between computers and cell phones, do I really need another connected device? no way. Especially one that costs more and is weaker than the ones mentioned.
Make it a femtocell that does VOIP, and maybe we can talk about $250.
I guess if you’re willing to pay an extra $10 per month and $250 for the phone to replace your vonage service, then why not. Cash to burn for something pretty. I’ll pass. But the phone itself is headed in the right direction when it comes to units. Just needs more…
I can’t believe I’m the first one to mention this…
Does anybody else notice the uncanny resemblance to an early 90’s car/bag phone???
(Minus the touch screen part)
I will DEFINITELY be trying this out once I get the chance. This might just be the future in home phones.
Then what you need is a vTech system ! It allows Bluetooth connections for two cell phones. I’ve had this for a year and have 8 extensions (maximum number extensions is 12). If the cellphones are connected then you can answer a cell phone call on any extension.
I would agree with this. It is a very pricy proposition for families that have multiple cell phones. Surely Apple or Blackberry can come up with a dock that would allow a handset to be docked.
Verizon will not be getting my money, I’m afraid !
The future for home phones will be no home phones ! I wish some of the carriers here would offer a Single Number Reach, where you only have one number and it is associated with a number of devices. This was available in Singapore when I lived there from 2001-2004 !
Time to see true IMS and SIP services as opposed to the garbage capabilities and high costs we currently are pushed on us.
yes
i’d love one of these but it seems as though it wont be compatible with my optimum voice subscription :/
It doesn’t seem like you need to be in Verizon landline territory. It looks like if you have a Verizon Wireless store nearby, you can buy this bad boy since from some reports it seems to be VoIP and doesn’t need anything else from verizon (landline, fios or dsl)
For those complaining about the price…I paid $100 for a cheap digital frame last December(wouldn’t part for the the going rate of the better frames). So, for $100 more (less if you buy the expensive frames w/wifi built in like this seems to have), the purchase price seems in line, especifally if you consider what the AT&T frame and the iRiver devices cost. I have 5 PCs and 4 cell phones in my house but I’m considering this one since Vonage doesn’t have anything close and it lets me dump them and I’m too lazy to fire up the PC when I’m leaving the house. Put this by my back door, a quick tap before I leave. I also read on one of the reports that I get unlimited calls and text messages to my cell phone. So, I’m ok w/price. It seems reasonable for what I’m getting, though maybe the service is higher than most VoIP providers.
For the optimum users. If you’re satisfied w/the quality of the optimum voice or can’t get out from under their triple play, then stick with it. If I could dump Cablevision, I would. FIOS…where are you when I need you?????
Bottom Line – While traditional telephone might be a dinosaur for those of you who are wireless only but VoIP isn’t going away any time soon. If VoIP providers offer me more for my $, then I’m for it.